Nokia and Tampere University of Technology Tighten Their Collaboration

Nokia Research Center (NRC) and Tampere University of Technology (TUT) have today announced the creation of a new framework to tighten open and innovative collaboration in their research activities. TUT will become the first and central collaboration partner in the planned Nokia Innovation Center Tampere, Finland, opening in September.

The aim of the center is to create a model for research based on open innovation, where information flows freely between collaborators. Past experience indicates that creating common research facilities where researchers from both parties can work together lowers the barrier to collaboration. Genuine collaboration is the central target:

"This announcement is about creating impactful results through sharing of information in both directions, not technology transfer. We can discuss together some specific research problem or functional entity without compromising confidentiality of either party. Researchers from both organizations can share the enthusiasm and work together as one group," commented Professor Jaakko Astola of the Tampere University of Technology, who has been strongly involved in preparing the new framework.

When launched, approximately 70 researchers will work together on a weekly basis. Both parties deem it essential that the center's work has the potential for market impact while also contributing to the state-of-the-art by producing high-quality technical publications. Part of the research will be funded by Tekes, the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology. It is envisaged that other research institutions, as well as compatible commercial companies, in the Tampere area may eventually also participate in the work of the center.